Safety clasp



Feb. 10, 1942. o. J. .KEHR I 2,272,674

lSAFETY CLASP Filed April 16, 1940 Patented Feb. 10, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,272,674 SAFETY CLASP Otto J. Kein', Upper Darby, Pa.

Application April 1s, 1940, serial No. 329,955

8 Claims.

This invention relates generally to the class of safety clasps and pertains particularly to improvements in clasps designed for securing pencils in the pocketvor for securing necktie clips in position to prevent loss of the `attached articles.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide anew and novel means of holding in position a pencil or necktie clasp in such manner that the clasp cannot become accidentally detachedY from the clothing but may be easily and quickly disconnected by the wearer when desired without damaging the clothing with which it is engaged, and it may be repeatedly applied and taken oi! without causing such damage and will, when applied, securely hold the pencil,

clasp or other article to which it is attachedf` against loss.

, The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed descrip,- tion taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention ployed for securing a pencil or pen in the pocket, such clasp being shown in Figs. 1 to 3. In these views, the numeral I designates a pencil while the numeral 2 generally indicates the clasp which may be of standard design.

The clasp indicated generally by the numeral 2 and with which the present safety device is associated includes a .collar portion 3 through which the pen or pencil is slidably extended and with which is integrally connected a longitudinal finger extension l', and a lever arm 5 which may be tu bular or transversely arcuate and-which is coupled with the freeend of the iinger I and which terminates at its forward end in the hollow ball 6. The finger extension I is of resilient character and is biased toward the pencil so that the ball is not to be confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawing but may -be changed or modified so long 'as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

in the drawing- Fig. l illustrates the application of the 'present safety device to a clasp of the type commonly employed for holding pencils in the pocket, the clasp and pencil being shownin side elevation.

Fig. iu is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of the pin enclosing ball showing the pin in re.- tracted position.

Fig. 2 is a view in top plan of the structure as shownin Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the safety device in operative engagement with a portion of a pocket in which the pencil is disposed.

Fig. 3a is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of the pin enclosing ball showing the pin projected.

Fig. 4 is a view partially in side elevation and partially in section of a necktie clasp showing the safety device associated therewith.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the.

device in engagement with a cloth body such as a necktie.

Fig. 6 is a rear view of the clasp structure `shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a front view` of the clasp. vFig. 8 is a detailed sectional view showing a slight modification of the structure as illustrated in Fig. 1n. v

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, reference will first be made to the application of the safety device to a clasp of the type emend 6 of the lever arm 5 is normallyurged toward the body of the pencil and there is integrally connected with the sleeve 3 an elongated fiat metal strip 1 which terminates at its forward end in a plate 8 located between the ball 6 and the body of the pencil, this plate end being preferably of a suitable soft material for the purpose hereinafter stated. The plate 8 lies flat against the side of the pencil so as not to interfere with the passage of thev outer wall of the material forming a pocket into which the pencil .is extended, which wall of material is indicated at 9 in Fig. 3.

As previously stated, the ball 6 is hollow and the side opposing the pencil is provided with an opening or window II).

Extending longitudinally within the arm 5 is a resilient camming strip II which terminates at its forward end in a cam head I2. Also disposed within and extending longitudinally of the arm is a resilient pin strip or wire I3, the forward end of which terminates within the ball 6 in the angularly directed pin I4, the point of which is directed toward the window I0. This pin strip is secured-to the arm 5 against longitudinal movement, as by the rivety I2' or in any other suitable manner. The camming strip which, as previously stated, is of resilient metal, has limited longitudinal movement within the arm 5 and at the end remote from the head I2, this camming strip is joined with an actuating button I5 which is lowhich passes through the longitudinal slot I'I formed in the top side of the arm 5.

Within the ball 6 a curved wall portion I'l is formed to provide a camming surface against which the head I2 engages when the strip II is shifted rearwardly.

In the operation of the safety device thus described, it will be seen that when the pencil is inserted into a pocket so as to force the edge of the wall 9 of the pocket between the ball 8 and the plate 8, the point of the pin which is normally retracted into the ball will be directed toward the cloth of the pocket wall through the opening I0. It is then necessary only for the user of the device to shift the button I5 rearwardly on the lever arm 5 or away from the ball 6, thereby pulling the camming strip II and the head I2 so as to bring the head into contact with the camming face I 'I' of the ball, causing the strip II to be flexed toward the pin strip I3. The head I2 will then bear against the pin strip and flex this strip so that the point I4 of the pin will be projected through the opening or window IIJ, as shown in Fig. 3".A

The soft metal plate 8 protects the point of the pin from damage as the point will enter this metal without injury instead of being driven against the hard material of the pen or pencil. Detachment of the clasp by shifting the button I5 in the opposite direction is effected to permit the resilient strip I I to return to its straightened condition and also to permit the resilient pin strip I3 to straighten out so as to withdraw the point of the pin from the cloth of the pocket.

In the application of the idea to a necktie clasp such as is shown in Figs. 4 to 7 and indicated generally by the numeral I 8, there is em# ployed a carrier plate I! which is secured to and longitudinally of the resilient back arm of the tie holder, which arm is made up of two parallel bars in the usual manner. ward end the plate Il merges into a shell-like or housing body 2l, which has an open side di rected toward the front arm 22 of the clasp.

Within the housing portion 2i of the plate there is disposed a cam body 23 which is joined with an elongated longitudinally shiftable plate 24 and which has the arcuate camming surface or face 25 which is directed toward the short arm 20 of the clasp. To the plate, adjacent the end remote from the camming body or head 23, is secured a pin 26 which extends outwardly through a slot 21 which is formed longitudinally of the adjacentr wall of the housing and which terminates in the button 28 which is employed for engagement by the fingernail to facilitate shifting the plate.

Interposed between the shiftable cam plate 24 and the short arm or rear arm 20 of the clasp is the flexible pin arm 29 which is secured to the arm 20 and which extends longitudinally of the plate 24 to a point adjacent the camming surface 25 Where it terminates in the angularly directed Din 30. 'I 'his resilient arm or strip 29 which carries the pin 30 is adapted to be exed at the pin end by the camming surface 25 when the camming plate 24 is shifted within the limits of the slot 2l.

When the tie clasp is mounted in position upon a tie or upon any other body of cloth material such as is indicated at 3|, the long arm 22 will` be disposed upon one side of this piece of material while the short arm 20 will be disposed at the opposite side and the pin 30 will be retracted due to the fact that the camming body is shifted away from the pin toward the adiacent end of the housingbody 2I. The projection of the pin into the material Il is accomplished by shifting the button 2l to the opposite end4 of its slot 21 so as to draw the head 23 toward the pin 30 and thus cause the inner end of the pin and the end of the strip to which it .is attached to ride onto the curved surface 25. This causes the pin to be shifted transversely of the arm 20 of the clasp and the point thereof to enter the material 3|.

accidental removal or displacement of the clasp cannot occur until the safety pin controlling button 28 is shifted back to its initial position so as to remove the camming head 23 and permit the resilient strip 29 to straighten out and retract the point of the pin from the material.

In Fig. 8, a slightly modified form of the construction shown in Fig. l is illustrated. In this form the ball,l here indicated by the numeral B', houses the camming strip I I' and a cam head I2" which is turned down toward the end of the resilient strip I3 which carries the pin I4. By this arrangement, it will be seen that the rounded camming face I2" of the head will ride against the inner end of the pin when the strip II' is shifted away from the head 6', thus caus ing the pin strip I 3 to be flexed in a manner to dirnect the point of the pin through the opening From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the device embodying the present .invention is of relatively simple design and may, therefore, be inexpensively made and incorporated With pencil holding devices or tie clasps in the manner illustrated and described, and that the device will function efficiently to secure the article with which it is associated against accidental ,v displacement.

At its for- :sor

What is claimed is:

1. In a safety clasp of the character described, an article engaging body, an arm coupled with the body and having an end adapted to bear against a side of the article, an elongated resilient strip extending longitudinally of and slidably supported by said arm, the strip having one end disposed adjacent the said end of the arm, a second resilient strip carried by the arm,

By this means, it will be readily seen that the a pincarriedby the second strip at the said end of the arm and having its point directed toward the article with which said body is connected, means carried by the first strip and'slidably connected Withthe arm for effecting limited longitudinal movement of the first strip on the arm, and cooperating means between the said one end of' the arm and the adjacent end of the first strip for effecting the flexing of the first strip against the secondv strip to move the point of said pin toward the adjacent article when the first strip isshifted in one direction.

2. In a safety clasp of the character cle scribed, an article engaging body, an arm cou pled with the body and having an end adapted to bear against a side of the article, an elongated resilient strip extending longitudinally oi and slidably supported by said arm, the strip having one end disposed adjacent the said end of the arm, a second resilient strip carried by the arm, a pin carried by the second strip at the said one end of the arm and having its point directed toward the article with which said body is connected, means carried by the first strip and slidably connected with the arm for effectin'g limited longitudinal movement of the first strip on the arm, the said one end of the arm being formed to provide a hollow ball having an open side directed toward the article and toward which open side the point of the pin is di may be pressed.

` arm to facilitate insertion of an article engaging body, an arm coupled with the body and having an end adapted to bear strip supported on said element for' limited ,k lengthwise movement thereon, a pin yieldingly against a side of lthe article,an elongated re- Y fecting the flexing of the strip in a direction' to engage the pin and move the point of the pin toward the adjacent article' when the strip is shifted in one direction, a plate carried by the body and adapted to lie against a side vof the article engaged by the body and terminating between the article andthe point of said pin, and

said plate at the` terminal portion being -formed of soft material into which the point of the pin 4. A safety securing means for a necktie clasp having a relatively long front arm and a rear arm connected at one end with aniend of the front arm, the arms being resiliently coupled and having their unconnected ends in separable contact to receive a body of material therebetween, comprising an elongated strip extending lengthwise of said rear arm, vmeans supportingv said strip for limited longitudinal movement on the rear arm, a pin member resiliently supported on the rear arm and having a pointed end directed transversely of the arms, means for eiecting the longitudinal shifting of s'aid strip, and means carried by' the strip against which an end of said pin contacts when the strip is moved in one direction to effect lateral flexing of the pin support and the movement of the pin transversely of the arms and into the material disposed between the arms.

5; A safety securing me'ans ing a iront arm portion and a rear arm portion, the rear arm portion being resiliently coupled at one end with the iront larm portion and having its other end inyielding contact with the front a body of material between the arms, comprising anelongated body rigidly secured to and longitudinally ofthe rear arm portion and terminatingatone end adjacent the contacting portions of the two arms between which portions ,the body of material is* resiliently held, an elongated strip of material supported by said body for limited longitudinal for a tie clasp havattached to said elongated element and having a point in close proximity to the said other end of the elongated element and directed toward the body member, and a thrust `element mounted on said elongated element for movement in a longitudinal direction thereon and when moved in one direction engaging the pin and forcing the same to yield to thrust the point thereof past the said other end of the elongated element toward the body and into the support.

7. A safety clasp for a pencil, pen or the like, comprising a pencil engaging body, an elongated body member secured to the rst body to position against and longitudinally of the side thereof, an elongated tubular element lyieldingly coupled vto the body member and having one end in the form of 4a hollow head having yielding contact with said member for removable connection with a support, the said tubular element opening into the hollow head, an elongated strip -slidably supported Within the tubular element, an actuating button connected with said strip and'extending through a slot in the tubular member for effecting longitudinal movement of the strip, said strip having a bail end disposed within the hollow head, a pin having a shank portion lying within the tubular member and extending longitudinally toward said head and terminating in an angularly directed point lying within the head and directed toward the body member, said head having an opening through the wall adjacent the body member for the extension o'f said point therethrough, and'said ball end strip being so constructed and arranged with respect to the pin shank that upon movement of the strip in one direction the ball end will apply lateral thrust to the pin shanlr to transversely flex the same to eiect projection of the point through the Aopening of the ball head, d

8. A safety clasp for a pencil, pen or the like, comprising a` pencil engaging body, an elongated body member secured to the rst body to position strip having a ball end disposed within the holmovement thereon, said strip having `one end disa body of material held between the arm portions.

v 6. A safety clasp, comprisinga body member,

an elongated element yieidingly connected at one end to the memberand having its other end in yielding contact'with the lmember for removs Yable.,connection with a support, anelongated against and longitudinally of the side thereof, an elongated tubular element yieldingly coupled to the body member and having one end in the iorm of a hollow Head having yielding contact with said member for removable connection with a support, the said tubular element opening intov the hollow head, an elongated strip slidably supported within the tubular element, an actuating button connected with said strip and extending through a slot/in the tubular member for effecting longitudinal movement of the strip, said' low head, a pin having a shank portion lying within the tubular member and extending longitudinallytoward said head andterminating in an angularly directed point lying within the head and directed toward the body member, saidhead r having an opening through the wall adjacent the bo'dy member for the extension of said point therethrough, and a. cam means formed upon the -`wall of said hollow head within the head and arranged for engagement by said ball end of the strip to effect the iiexing of thestrip toward the pin shank, said ball end-when so exed applying lateral pressure tothe pin shank to flex the latter and effect the projection of the pin point through the opening in the wall-of the hollow Y head. O'I'IO J. KEHR. 

